Emily, I think historical art is difficult to pull off well. There’s a fine line between moving and goofy, between conveying true emotion artistically and conveying a dumbed-down literalism. It’s even more difficult when doing a generic scene like this that’s not based on a particular event or specific people. If just seeing a battle flag puts a lump in your throat, than this may be fine. But objectively speaking, “Rebel Yell” is nothing more than an in-your-face dose of rootin’, tootin’ rebeldom that is all sex and no cigarette.

My wife wouldn’t take kindly to historical stuff hanging in the house, but if she did, an example of interesting such art that might pass muster is “Death of an Army” by Don Troiani. The key is what it’s conveying artistically: that moment before the deadly charge at Franklin, with Gen. Cleburne pointing his sword in the direction of the enemy, knowing the impending advance likely meant his death and that of his command. It’s the suggestion of action, while itself being almost static — the last quiet moment — that makes it interesting and moving. Troiani’s not even my favored historical artist; I think Keith Rocco produces the most consistently compelling such work.

Long story short: there’s a lot better stuff out there than this dreck. PS: always avoid puffy shirts.

Okay, too much a novice to know ‘bad art’ from ‘good art’, so I’ll reserve my opinion on the whether’s of this ‘art’ … maybe I wouldn’t hang it in my living room … but to my question:

Today, is there a mandate of political correctness to view the Confederate flag solely as diversionary? i.e. Do people look at it as SOLELY a ‘call to racism’ or does anyone look at it ‘in its moment’ as a symbol of a past era and a lost cause? i.e. Shall we ALL spit on it? Is the art of Wesley’s ancestor ‘bad art’ because it depicts the Confederate flag? Or, technically, is it ‘bad’ art?

I must apologize – I gave you my art review without addressing the specific questions you asked.

It’s not bad art because it depicts the battle flag. Lots of “good” art could have the CBF in it. The mere presence of the CBF, for me , does not make it suspect. This is bad art because it’s bad art – unimaginative, simplistically organized, overwhelming in pseudo-emotional force while lacking in emotional depth, pandering to a political stance and not to human feeling. I mean, c’mon – that guy in front looks like he’s from the Ministry of Silly Walks.

That said, I had never heard of Roberta Wesley before today, and make no judgment on her overall talent, her political leanings, her style sense, etc. She may well be a lovely woman and our next great painter. This work, however, is not proof of her merit as an artist, and it has nothing necessarily to do with the fact the CBF is in the painting.